House Hearing Explored Compatibility of Sharia Law with U.S. Constitution Amid Rising Concerns

On May 13, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government held a hearing entitled “Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam & Sharia Law are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution: Part II.”

While news of the hearing largely focused on Marco Hunter-Lopez, it took place as part of a larger initiative led by Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who established the “Sharia Free America Caucus” late last year to address what they see as a danger to American civil liberties.

The broader session centered on the perceived threats posed by the increasing influence of Sharia law in the United States, particularly concerning civil liberties, foundational principles, and republican governance. Additionally, the hearing examined the potential conflicts between Sharia-based institutions and federal law as well as the Constitution.

Members of Congress heard testimony from a total of four individuals, the first of whom was Ammon Blair, a Senior Fellow with the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Secure & Sovereign Nation Initiative and a consultant to the Operation Lone Star Task Force, spoke next.

He addressed the critical issue of religious liberty in America, affirming that while the First Amendment guarantees the right to practice religion freely, it does not exempt individuals or groups from adhering to the rule of law.

“A crime remains a crime regardless of religion, and no religious, ideological, or political system possesses a constitutional license to violate the rights of a sovereign nation, a sovereign state, a political subdivision, private property owners, or individual citizens,” he explained.

Blair also cited Governor Greg Abbott’s designation both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations at the state level.

According to Abbott, “The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world.’”

In his written testimony provided to Congress, he also noted:

Abbott has directed investigations into entities “masquerading as legal ‘courts’ staffed with ‘judges’ issuing orders that purportedly carry the authority to bind individuals to Islamic codes, thereby preempting state and federal laws,” declaring that legal disputes in Texas “must be decided based on American law… not according to Sharia law.”

Blair asserted that the overarching message underscores the necessity of maintaining a unified legal system to ensure the protection of all Americans’ rights, irrespective of their faith.

Next, Amy Mekelburg, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of RAIR (Rise, Align, Ignite, Reclaim) Foundation USA, offered her testimony. She revealed her personal battle against what she perceives as Islam’s encroachment on Western values and freedoms, detailing the personal risks she faces, including threats to her family and the assassination of her friend, Salwan Momika. “Sweden put him on trial for ‘hate speech’ for telling the truth about the threat that killed him,” she explained.

“Islam is a hostile totalitarian political ideology using our freedoms to destroy us,” Mekelburg shared. “To every non-Muslim, it offers three choices: convert, submit, or die. It does not stop until every court, school, and government on earth is under Sharia.”

To that end, she warned that Islamic groups, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, orchestrate a systematic plan to undermine American institutions and culture through the establishment of parallel Islamic societies and the infiltration of various sectors, including education and politics. She continued, highlighting alarming developments in Texas and Florida, such as the construction of an $80 million Sharia compound in Katy and the widespread conversion of churches into mosques. She provided an example:

In Dallas, two imams who preach hand amputation, sex with captives, and stoning adulterers are suing to seize a Christian megachurch.

Addressing the members of Congress gathered at the hearing, Mekelburg delivered a compelling conclusion to her testimony, stating, “The American people are awake. Washington is not. We must choose: The Constitution or the Quran. America or the caliphate. Freedom or submission. There is no middle ground.”

Hunter-Lopez, a student and founder of the Republican Student Club at Wylie East High School in Texas, followed Mekelburg. He described a 2024 incident at his school, saying the conservative student club faced significant hurdles in gaining approval, while other groups promoting Islamic ideology and gender-affirming beliefs were accepted without issue. Despite meeting all requirements, including having ten members and a teacher sponsor, the club was initially denied on the basis of being “political in nature.”

After extensive communication with administrators, the club was eventually approved but faced ongoing scrutiny, instances of censorship, and “hostile oversight.” In contrast, during a school lunch period, a booth promoting Islamic beliefs, including materials on Sharia, was set up by the organization “Why Islam” without any intervention from school officials. This incident raised concerns about the promotion of Sharia in public schools, which Hunter-Lopez argued is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution and American values.

Nearing the end of his testimony, he stated, “Public schools must remain neutral. They exist to educate, not to promote foreign legal systems incompatible with our Constitution or to favor one ideology over another. What is happening in suburban Wylie, Texas, is not isolated. If Sharia can be introduced this easily in the small suburban town of Wylie, it can happen anywhere.”

Last week, The Gateway Pundit reported on the viral exchange between Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and this very apt teenager. Raskin questioned the need for a session focused on whether the U.S. should implement special laws for certain religious groups instead of adhering to secular law. Raskin posed follow-up questions to Hunter-Lopez, skillfully countering his statements at every turn.

Is it any wonder that Hunter-Lopez has received pushback and has even faced death threats for voicing his opinions?

“I had people saying that they were going to be at my house waiting for me to get home and they were going to shoot me,” Hunter-Lopez shared with the subcommittee.

“I had people telling me to kill myself. A lot of different things. But I know nobody can proclaim anything over me because I wake up every morning with victory with Christ.”

The very organization, Why Islam, that brought Hunter-Lopez into the spotlight regarding this issue in America, is linked to terrorism. As previously reported by The Gateway Pundit, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) serves as the main representative organization for the South Asian Islamist movement Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in the U.S., with JeI’s militant faction, Hizbul Mujahideen, classified as a terrorist organization since 2017.

ICNA’s websites have previously linked to groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and the organization has also supported the Islamic Society in Gaza, which is known for radicalizing children for Hamas. None other than the organization “Why Islam” is involved in the proselytization efforts of ICNA.

The first three guests provided a collective account of genuine threats and dangers facing America. However, Amanda Tyler, a constitutional attorney and the Executive Director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, joined the hearing, presenting an alternative perspective.

For her, religious liberty is a fundamental principle that must protect all faiths, requiring government neutrality towards religious beliefs. She said this principle was reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, emphasizing that the government cannot favor or oppose any religion.

Tyler said, “Anti-Muslim government action violates that clear command. Even proposed legislation targeting a particular religion can undercut our fundamental religious freedom by perpetuating harmful stereotypes and misinformation about Islam and Muslims.” She argued that “efforts like these sow misunderstanding about Islam and Sharia.”

“Particularly at a time of rising political violence,” she said, “targeting groups based on perceived differences threatens to exacerbate tensions and contribute to a culture of fear, discrimination, and violence.”

In the end, Tyler said that such government actions not only harm Muslims but also undermine the broader concept of religious freedom for all Americans, highlighting the need for leaders to promote inclusivity rather than “fearmongering and distorting one religious tradition for perceived political gain.”

As the hearing concluded, it became evident that the debates surrounding Sharia law and its implications for American society extend far beyond mere legal interpretations; they touch on the very fabric of civil liberties, religious freedom, and the fundamental principles of governance. While lawmakers navigate this contentious issue, one thing is certain: it is imperative that they remain vigilant in upholding the ideals enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

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